Cities bear the brunt of rising costs as trade tension between longtime allies continues
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Below is a statement from U.S. Conference of Mayors President Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego, reacting to the escalating cycle of tariffs and retaliation between the United States and Canada:
“Mayors across America know the consequences of trade disputes are felt directly at the local level, in higher costs for small businesses, strained municipal budgets, and residents who feel the squeeze at the register and at the gas pump.
“Our communities depend on stable and predictable trade relationships. For mayors in the United States and Canada, especially those whose cities and states share a border, that relationship goes beyond geography. We are neighbors, friends, and partners whose communities and economies are deeply connected. An escalating cycle of tariffs and retaliation between longtime allies benefits neither country. We stand together with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the mayors of Canada in asking our respective federal governments to continue to work together to find a solution before these harmful tariffs take effect.
“The economic consequences will reach farmers, manufacturers, homebuilders and small businesses, and ultimately Americans buying a car, paying for a home or putting food on the table. At a time when families across the country are already struggling with a growing affordability crisis, additional tariffs risk making everyday necessities even more expensive.
“Mayors are pragmatic by necessity. Our residents expect us to solve problems and deliver results. That’s why the U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the White House and Congress to move quickly toward a negotiated solution that reduces tariffs and restores predictability to our trade relationship. These decisions may be made in Washington, but their consequences are felt in cities and communities across America.”
About the United States Conference of Mayors – The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Follow our work on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, Substack, and TikTok.
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SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors
